Fans banned from Lecce v Bari derby

MILAN - Lecce's Serie A game with bitter southern Italian rivals Bari on January 6 will be played behind closed doors because of security worries, the home side said in a statement on Wednesday.

The rivalry on Italy's heel between Serie A's two bottom sides is one of the hottest in the country and police have acted following a series of incidents.

Last month Lecce's Souleymane Diamoutene was accosted by his own fans at a training session because he used to play for Bari while former Bari coach Antonio Conte was attacked on a beach near Lecce two years ago.